Judge Sets Blake Civil Trial Date

Tue., Dec. 3, 2002 5:40 PM PST by

One of Robert Blake's trial dates has been set. At least for now.

The once-upon-a-time Baretta star, accused of murdering wife Bonny Lee Bakley, can pencil in a June 30 appointment on his increasingly complicated court calendar. That's the day a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has selected for the start of the wrongful-death civil case brought by Bakley's children. However, that trial will be delayed if Blake's criminal murder trial is still pending.

More immediately Blake--who denies the allegations that he ambushed and killed Bakley last year outside a Studio City restaurant--is due in court Friday for a hearing on the criminal murder case.

The Friday hearing will establish a new date for the preliminary hearing originally set for December 11 (pay attention, now) needed because Blake's original criminal attorney Harland Braun quit over a spat about Blake's desire to for a jailhouse chat with ABC's Diane Sawyer, and his new legal eagles, Thomas Mesereau, Jr. and Jennifer Keller, will need time to prepare their version of their client's defense.

"Friday will be a big Robert Blake day," says Eric Dubin, attorney for Bakley's children. Dubin has a hearing in the Burbank Superior Court that morning to establish upcoming deposition dates for the civil case against Blake and his codefendant and ex-bodyguard, Earle Caldwell.

Last month, Blake ducked a scheduled videotaped deposition with Dubin. The attorney instead taped a series of questions to an empty chair in the county jail where Blake has been holed up since April. The attorney has asked that the 69-year-old actor be fined $7,975 for being MIA at the deposition, a routine part of preparation for a civil trial. Blake's civil attorney, Barry Felsen, says Dubin had been notified that Blake would be a no-show. Dubin says that notification came too late.

Blake will be asked to respond to 35 accusatory statements, according to the Associated Press, among them: "On May 4, 2001, you shot Bonny Lee Bakley in the face and shoulder while she sat parked in your car."

Felsen has stated he believes the criminal trial will be delayed, probably impacting the start of the civil suit.

Blake could wind up with life in prison if convicted of the murder charges. As for the civil case, Bakley's four surviving kids (not including the young daughter she had with Blake) are seeking an unspecified amount of damanges.

Dubin had been set to depose Caldwell (who, unlike Blake, is out on bail) last week, but that will now take place sometime within the next month. On Tuesday, Dubin could only say he'll know more on Friday about whether there would be any more delay tactics from Blake's side.

Said the attorney, "If it was me sitting in jail, I'd be screaming like crazy to get on with it all."

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